Is Dementia Slowed Down by Wearing Hearing Aids?

Your brain can be benefited by taking care of your hearing loss. At least, that’s according to a new study out of a University of Manchester research team. Over the period of around 20 years (1996 to 2014), nearly 2000 individuals were studied by these analysts. The attention-getting conclusions? Dementia can be slowed by up to 75% by dealing with hearing loss.

That is not an insignificant figure.

But still, it’s not really that unexpected. That’s not to detract from the weight of the finding, of course, this is an important statistical connection between the struggle against dementia and the treatment of hearing loss. But it coordinates well with what we currently know: treating your loss of hearing is imperative to slowing cognitive decline as you get older.

How am I Impacted by This Research?

Scientific studies can be confusing and inconsistent (should I eat eggs, should I not eat eggs? What about wine? Will drinking wine help me live longer?). There are countless unrelated causes for this. Because here’s the main point: yet further proof, this research suggests untreated hearing loss can result in or exacerbate mental decline including dementia.

So what does this indicate for you? It’s very simple in some ways: if you’ve been noticing any possible signs of hearing loss, come see us as soon as you can. And you should begin using that hearing aid as directed if you discover you require one.

Hearing Aids Help Prevent Dementia When You Wear Them Correctly

Regrettably, not everybody falls directly into the practice of wearing a prescribed pair of hearing aids. Some of the reasons why are:

• How hearing aids look worries you. You’d be surprised at the assortment of models we have available now. Some styles are so discreet, you might not even notice them.
• The hearing aid doesn’t feel as if it fits comfortably. If you are experiencing this problem, please let us know. We can help make it fit better.
• The hearing aid doesn’t seem like it works as advertised. Many people need to have their settings adjusted, and calibration problems are definitely something that can be addressed by our hearing specialists.
• Voices are difficult to understand. Your brain doesn’t always instantly adjust to hearing voices. There are some things we can suggest, like reading along with an audiobook, that can make this process easier.

Your future cognitive faculties and even your overall health are undoubtedly affected by wearing hearing aids. We can help if you’re struggling with any of the above. Consulting your hearing expert to make certain your hearing aids are working for you is just part of the process and it calls for time and patience.

And taking into consideration these new findings, treating your hearing loss is more important than ever before. Be serious about the treatment because hearing aids are safeguarding your hearing and your mental health.

What’s The Connection Between Dementia And Hearing Aids?

So what’s the real connection between hearing loss and dementia? Analysts themselves aren’t exactly sure, but some theories are associated with social isolation. When dealing with loss of hearing, some people isolate themselves socially. Another theory concerns sensory stimulation. All senses induce activity in the brain, and some experts theorize that the loss of stimulation can cause cognitive decline over a period of time.

You hear better when you wear your hearing aid. And that can help keep your brain active, delivering a more powerful natural defense against dementia and cognitive decline. That’s why treating hearing loss can delay dementia by up to 75% percent and why it shouldn’t be unexpected that there is a connection between the two.